21-Dec-2011
The News
DOHA: Egypt retained men’s and women’s squash titles in the Arab Games thanks to first-time triumphs by Tarek Momen and Raneem El Weleily in the 2011 championships’ finals at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
Top seeds Momen, the men’s world No20 from Cairo, and El Weleily, the women’s world No7 from Alexandria, were the favourites to retain the titles won by compatriots Amr Shabana and Engy Kheirallah in the 2007 Arab Games in Egypt.
After overcoming Kuwaiti Abdullah Al Muzayen, also a semifinalist in 2007, in four games, Momen lined up against fellow countryman Karim Abdel Gawad in the men’s final. Alexandria-born Gawad, the 20-year-old second seed, took a 2/1 lead, but the more experienced 23-year-old Momen regained control to close the match 11-6, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-4 and claim the gold medal.
El Weleily also faced a second-seeded compatriot in the women’s final and Omneya Abdel Kawy also established an early lead. But it was to be a silver medal for the second time in a row for the former world No8 from Cairo as the in-form El Weleily marched on to gold medal success, winning 7-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6. The quadrennial Arab Games were first played in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1953. |
